The architect of the new era

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

An artist's impression of the Colombo Port expansion project

The farsighted vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has enabled Sri Lanka to achieve many landmark victories and tangible benefits over the past eight years.

The 'home-grown theory' adopted by the President to defeat the most ruthless terrorist outfit, the LTTE, held the world spellbound. It gave a completely new experience to the world as to how terrorism could be defeated. President Rajapaksa would go down in the annals of history as a visionary leader who ended the three decade-old terrorism and unified Sri Lanka under one flag and created a political vision that seeks both development and reconciliation to build a new Sri Lankan nation.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan after opening the Kallady Bridge in the Eastern Province

A significant milestone of the President's leadership, is that for the first time in Sri Lankan politics, an SLFP-led coalition government under his deft leadership was formed with a two-thirds majority in Parliament. With the President's broadbased political vision, the political stability has been restored in the country and this has immensely helped achieve a sound economic growth.

If we were to look at the President's illustrious political career which spans over 40 years, it is evident that he had no shortcut to the Presidency. During his long political journey, the President made many sacrifices for the well-being of his people, with an unfailing loyalty to the political party he belonged and its leadership as well.

His vast political experience paved the way for him to boldly face the rough and tumble of politics. His personal charm and charisma have won over the vast majority of the people.

President Rajapaksa was sworn in as the fifth Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on November 19, 2005, after being elected to office at a free and fair Presidential Election on November 17, 2005. He won the Presidential Election on a wide-ranging policy which was largely people-oriented as set out in his Mahinda Chinthana manifesto.

The President in his Mahinda Chinthana pledged to defeat terrorism and restore democracy. He showed his utmost commitment for a negotiated settlement to the long-standing problem. He was re-elected with an overwhelming majority at the next Presidential Election on January 26, 2010.

Nationwide mandate

The President's decision to hold a Presidential Election two years before the end of his first six-year term showed his genuine desire for a fresh nationwide mandate because the people in the North and the East were pressurised by the LTTE to boycott the 2005 Presidential Election.

President Rajapaksa also set another record in Sri Lanka's political history as the first Executive President who led his party to a landslide victory at the Parliamentary Elections held just over two months after being elected for a second term of office. This bears testimony to the firm confidence reposed in him by the vast majority of people as the only national leader who liberated the country from the clutches of terrorism and set the country on the path of peace, democracy and rapid economic development. In this election, all communities were determined to exercise their franchise due to the landmark decision taken by President Rajapaksa to eradicate LTTE terrorism from Sri Lankan soil.

The Chinese-funded Colombo South harbour is seen in the background AFP

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that the charismatic leadership of President Rajapaksa had helped unify the nation under one banner, simultaneously leading the country towards the path of development and reconciliation. The Minister described the President as a unique leader and statesman.

The stamina he displayed in the hustle and bustle of politics deserves public accolades.

As the people's President, he is accessible to anybody. If somebody telephones him at 7.00 am, he will instantly pick up the telephone and answer them. As a leader who has felt the pulse of the people, the President always shows his love and care for the children.

Minister De Silva said that the President, with his strong personality, always maintained his composure during any internal or external threats. The President's sagacity was demonstrated to the whole world during the final stages of the humanitarian operation.

He stood firmly without giving in to any international pressure and this immensely helped eradicate terrorism in the country.

It was more or less a divided country when President Rajapaksa took office. Even the world's superpowers were of the view that we were dealing with the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world. They pressurised the President to negotiate with the terrorists.

The President, however, together with the valiant soldiers militarily crushed the LTTE. This indeed was a remarkable achievement during his first year in office.

Therefore, the whole country is grateful to the President for rescuing the nation from the jaws of terrorism.

Eradicating terrorism

Compared to the former leaders, President Rajapaksa has never let down the people who voted him to office. Despite international pressure, he stood firmly to safeguard the motherland and eradicate terrorism. This is not only a victory by the President himself, but also a victory achieved for the nation. Although the whole focus was on defeating terrorism, the President never neglected the economic development of the country. In a matter of three or four years, the President achieved the ultimate goal of bringing peace to the country while developing the country.

At present, the country's per capita income has increased considerably and most of our economic indicators are also very positive. Minister de Silva said irrespective of political differences, the people recognise the Rajapaksa era as the most developed in the post-Independence history.

People can now witness new roads, highways, an international airport, ports, power projects and health, education, water and other infrastructure facilities over the past eight years under the President's illustrious leadership.

The Government has created many employment opportunities and enhanced the economy and provided various subsidies such as fertiliser. At the same time, the Government mobilised the natural resources, and other assets in the country for the future generation without privatising them.

President Rajapaksa has also adopted a pragmatic foreign policy with a commitment to the principles of Non-Alignment by maintaining cordial ties with all countries. He is strongly supportive of the United Nations and its initiatives for development and progress and seeks international cooperation to fight terrorism both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.

Sri Lanka is among the oldest members of the 54 member States of the Commonwealth, being one of its founder members since it gained independence in 1948. Sri Lanka was selected as the venue to host the CHOGM 2013. This would be yet another historic opportunity gained by Sri Lanka to showcase its remarkable progress especially after terrorism was defeated.

Sri Lanka is privileged to hold CHOGM this year as this is the first time that an Asian country is hosting this event after 24 years. This prestigious event provides us a valuable opportunity to promote and reposition Sri Lanka as a strategically important economic centre of the world.